VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) dismantled 21 illegal fish aggregating devices, or FADs, in the waters of North Sulawesi (Sulut) located in the Indonesia-Philippines border region.

"Seven FADs (illegal fish aggregating devices) were dismantled on Saturday (May 25) and 14 other FADs on Sunday (May 26) by the Orca 04 Fisheries Supervision Ship headed by Capt. Eko Priyono," Acting (Plt) Director General of Maritime and Fisheries Resources Supervision (PSDKP) of KKP Agus Suherman remarked in Jakarta, Tuesday.

Suherman stated that these FADs were installed in Indonesian waters without permission and were allegedly owned by foreign fishermen.

Suherman noted that on the basis of their identity, these FADs are believed to be owned by Filipino fishermen.

Moreover, the FADs were allegedly anchored in the Indonesian waters by individual Filipinos to attract more fish.

According to Suherman, this practice would undoubtedly be disadvantageous to Indonesian fishermen, as the fish would be lured into the FADs to be caught by Filipino fishermen.

Moreover, these FADs were brought and delivered to the Bitung PSDKP Base, North Sulawesi.

Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Regulation No. 26/Permen-KP/2014 on Rumpon stipulates that anyone anchoring FADs in the Republic of Indonesia Fisheries Management Area (WPP-RI) should possess a FAD installation license (SIPR).  (ant)